By Sophie Vermeulen
Amsterdam-based travel writer. Writes about European cities, trains, design and the small places worth the detour.
Travellers trust AI for pricing, not trip planning, survey finds
Only 44% of travellers would let AI plan their holidays. Most prefer using it for watching hotel rates (63%) and translating (56%). Italians
Russia turns to Asia as European tourism collapses
EU tourist arrivals to Russia fell from 5 million in 2019 to 160,000 in 2025. Moscow now courts Asian and Middle Eastern visitors, with visa
Mother abandons sons on Polish mountain trail to summit alone
A mother left her two sons, aged 8 and 14, alone on a foggy trail in Poland's Bieszczady Mountains because they were 'whining.' Fellow hiker
Lisbon leads Europe's travel awards as Montenegro wins nature prize
Lisbon took top honours at the 2026 World Travel Awards, named Europe's best city and leading cruise destination. Montenegro won the nature
Why 2027 is shaping up as Europe's year for birdwatching trips
Birdwatching is no longer a niche hobby—travel bookings are surging. Europe offers top spots from the Danube Delta to Iceland's puffin colon
Lisbon wins Europe's best city and cruise destination titles for 2026
Lisbon has been named Europe's best city destination and best cruise destination at the World Travel Awards Europe 2026. The ceremony took p
Europe's hidden golf gems: from Bulgaria's coast to Norway's Arctic links
Golfers are increasingly seeking quieter, less conventional European destinations. New booking data highlights seven underrated spots, from
Groot-Bijgaarden Castle hosts autumn pumpkin festival with 50,000 expected
Belgium's Groot-Bijgaarden Castle is hosting its annual pumpkin festival, expecting around 50,000 visitors. The event showcases pumpkins fro
Luxury travel in 2027: privacy, slow itineraries, and human expertise
Luxury travel in 2027 is less about opulence and more about intentionality. Privacy, slow itineraries, and human trip designers are key tren
Pumpkimania returns to Groot-Bijgaarden Castle with giant pumpkins and Halloween fun
Pumpkimania has taken over Groot-Bijgaarden Castle near Brussels, showcasing a 772kg pumpkin and animal sculptures made from gourds. Visitor
Algarve farmhouse to become wellness retreat by 2027
Shanti-Som Algarve, set in a restored 19th-century farmhouse near Faro, will open in February 2027. It will offer six wellness programmes, i
Italy's air traffic control failure grounds flights at Rome's Fiumicino
A fault in Italy's air traffic control data network caused widespread flight disruptions at Rome's Fiumicino Airport on Friday. Delays and c